---
title: Who benefits from treating premenstrual symptoms as a medical condition called PMS?
description: This paper argues that PMS is not purely a biological illness but also a concept shaped by culture, history and politics, and that after decades of research t
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/rethinking-the-label-who-benefits-from-the-pms-construct-1995/
---

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- Who benefits from treating premenstrual symptoms as a medical condition called PMS?

Review, 1995

# Who benefits from treating premenstrual symptoms as a medical condition called PMS?

This paper argues that PMS is not purely a biological illness but also a concept shaped by culture, history and politics, and that after decades of research there is still no agreement on how to define, explain or treat it.

 Early or limited evidence

Not a patient study; a review of academic and feminist writing about PMS.

## What they did

This is a feminist theoretical review of the academic literature on PMS. It examines the historical, cultural, economic and political forces behind how PMS became a popular medical label, rather than testing any treatment on patients.

## What they found

After more than 60 years of research, there is still no consensus on how to define PMS, what causes it, how to treat it, or whether the PMS concept itself is even useful. The authors argue PMS rests partly on unstated, deeply held beliefs about female biology and psychology rather than being a purely biomedical fact.

## What it means for you

The takeaway is that the PMS label itself may need rethinking, with new concepts and research questions needed to properly study premenstrual experiences. This is a review of ideas and arguments, not a patient study, so it gives no new data on symptoms, causes or treatments.

60 years

Years PMS has been researched

## About the study

Original title Rethinking the label: who benefits from the PMS construct? Authors Gurevich M Journal Women & health Year 1995 Study design Review What was tested None tested; this is a conceptual and historical analysis of the PMS category itself. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1300/j013v23n02_05](https://doi.org/10.1300/j013v23n02_05)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Case-control study, 2026

Do women with PMS handle emotions differently at different times of the cycle?

Systematic review, 2025

Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS?

Cohort study, 2023

Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis?

Systematic review, 2012

Does the menstrual cycle cause negative mood, especially before your period?

Survey study, 2011

What premenstrual symptoms do women experience around the world and how much do they affect daily life?

Randomised trial, 2006

What herbs and dietary supplements have evidence for treating premenstrual syndrome?

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